Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-06-30
BILLY HILL.
A Graphic Sketch of One Boy's
Celebration.
fOrlginal.1

tOnginall
Youth Is barbaric. Darwin SAYS this
is proof Of evolution. The Fourth Of
July, doubt not, is a barbaric holi-
day. 1t differs in its ceremonies from
all others of our festivals. In fact, II
came from the Oricnt-that is, its garb,
its noise, its bombast And, tinged in
pedigree with an eternal summer,
environed with display that is essen
tally childish, eastern, deafcning, the
Fourth of July has been happily set in
the very seat Of the northern solstice.
where sun the most glorious of all
the seasons might lend its longest
splendors.
How well, then. is the Fourth Of
July fitted TO the blazon and sheen Of
youth-one full journey Of this orb of
Ioroaster attended with the pomp and
rites Of sun-worshipers-a noon at
every hour, and fiery sacrifice at eve.
Therefore, oh, reader of years, 90
back with me into that happy land,
where wewere kings barbaric. Where
on one side lay the lake and on the
other the school, or our work-the one
all bliss, twinkling mirror Of un-
bounded hope; the other thing Of
doubtful merit and exceeding incon-
venienee.
What an astonishing confidence
game is life! How sure we were we
should win. before we played and lost!
Oh! well never mind that.
Now. Ovcrshadowing our Bixler
Lake, the greatest of our joys, there
rises the browning event, the Fourth
er-July. the birthday of the Nation. 1t
y weeks ahead. The matteris brought
lcfore the Sanhedrim Of the swimming
bole. The august character Of the eel
ebration is alluded to in fitting terms,
and each boy begins that solemn con-
temptation Of the coming day which is
TO stamp it well ihto his after life
Now Billy Hill has no time for con-
temptation. lie has a stint. Great
word that, stint Billy first heard il
about New Years. Since then he
wishes he had not learned il so early.
Yet il all came Of a philanthropic
scheme Of the editors wife. She
thought IL Billy had stint at the
printing-oilice he could get more time
10 skate. So Billy's stint is column
Ind half Of small plea ench day.
Now TO set TYPE forever would be
NIL very well. But when types have
boon taken from their boxes they must
be distributed back, which Is an opera
ton consuming n quarter Of n printers
lime, and more II he stops to read what
he is distributing, favorite weakness.
Among the great fathers of the daily
chapels in late years, It has been set
forth as canonical that the type ought
10 be distributed at the expense of the
lropriotors. And one profound thinker
Ms early as 1868. at Chicago, advanced
the then memorable theory that each
composltor ON daily paper should
come 10 the Office but once week, and
then only TO in eribe upon the books Of
the institution the amount Of salary
which might be needed for the support
Of his social condition and the proper
education Of his children.
Now, II the Labor lroblem-that Is,
how TO get the pay and escape the
work--puzzles grown people, how more
seriously must Il have imposed Itself
ON Billy Hill, who must set column
and half Of small plea, go in swim
ming At least twice, dig for bait figure
on Keeping somebody's boat. and play
a certain number Of games Of euehre
.-and all this each dayP II his cases
were full oI type to-day, he could set
bis column and half In exactly three
hours eighteen small sticksful at
ten minutes to each stick. There
would be no osoom 70 drink or speak In
this lime. u would simply be grand
rush.
u he should stop for any thing to